Study Guide for "For God So Loved Us"

In his talk, Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Seventy explores the depth of God's love for us, as demonstrated through His divine plan for each of us. He uses stories from the scriptures and personal experiences to illustrate how God's plan is personal, intimate, and designed for our eternal happiness. The talk emphasizes the role we play in helping others return to Heavenly Father and how this helps us become like Jesus Christ.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

How does Elder Ringwood illustrate God's personal love for each of us?
What does Elder Ringwood say about God's plan for us?
What role do we play in God's plan according to Elder Ringwood?
How does Elder Ringwood use stories from the scriptures to illustrate his points?
What is the ultimate goal of God's plan for us according to Elder Ringwood?

Topics

Understanding God's Personal Love and Plan for Us

Elder Ringwood emphasizes that God's plan for us is not a generic, one-size-fits-all plan, but a personal one, designed by a loving Heavenly Father who knows us intimately. This is evidenced by the personal interactions between Heavenly Father and His children in the scriptures.

God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son in the flesh, to lay down His life for every one of us. This He did because He loves us and designed a plan for each of us to return home to Him.

But this is not a blanket, catchall, hit-or-miss sort of plan. It is personal, set forth by a loving Heavenly Father, who knows our hearts, our names, and what He needs us to do.

What does it mean to you that God's plan is personal?
How does the knowledge that God knows you personally impact your faith and trust in His plan for you?
How have you seen God's personal love for you in your life?
What can you do to better understand and appreciate God's personal plan for you?

The Role of Forgiveness in God's Plan

Using the story of Joseph and his brothers, Elder Ringwood demonstrates the importance of forgiveness in God's plan. He emphasizes that whether we need to receive or extend forgiveness, the example of Joseph points us to Jesus Christ, the true source of healing and reconciliation.

In many ways, Joseph’s life parallels that of Jesus Christ. Even though our sins caused Him great suffering, the Savior offers forgiveness, delivering all of us from a fate far worse than famine.

What does the story of Joseph teach us about forgiveness?
How does forgiveness relate to God's plan for us?
How can you apply the principle of forgiveness in your life?
Who might you need to forgive in order to progress in God's plan for you?

Helping Others Return to Heavenly Father

Elder Ringwood stresses the importance of helping others return to Heavenly Father as part of God's plan. This is how we become like Jesus Christ, and it's a responsibility shared by parents, missionaries, leaders, and every member of the Church.

No matter who you are or your current circumstances, someone feels exactly this way about you. Someone wants to return to Heavenly Father with you.

Why does Heavenly Father’s personalized plan for us include helping others return to Him? Because this is how we become like Jesus Christ.

Why is helping others return to Heavenly Father part of God's plan for us?
How does helping others return to Heavenly Father help us become like Jesus Christ?
Who are the "Benjamins" in your life that you feel responsible to help return to Heavenly Father?
How can you better fulfill your role in helping others return to Heavenly Father?

Recognizing God's Miracles and Timing

Elder Ringwood highlights that God's miracles happen according to His timing and that no detail is too small for Him. He shares personal experiences to illustrate how God's miracles often come on the very day necessary for His plan to be fulfilled.

We too know that Heavenly Father has a personal plan of happiness for each of us. Because God sent His Beloved Son for us, the miracles we need will "[fall] on [the very] day" necessary for His plan to be fulfilled.

What does Elder Ringwood mean when he says that miracles happen according to God's timing?
How does understanding God's timing help us trust in His plan?
Can you recall a time when you experienced a miracle according to God's timing?
How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing?

Looking Forward to the Savior's Second Coming

Elder Ringwood concludes his talk by reminding us to look forward to and prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, just as the believers in the Old Testament looked forward to His first coming. He emphasizes that even if we do not understand all aspects of our lives, we can know that God loves His children.

It is also about humble believers who faithfully looked forward to the coming of our Savior, just as we look forward to and prepare for His Second Coming—His long-prophesied, glorious return.

Until that day, we may not see with our natural eyes the design of God for all aspects of our lives. But we can remember Nephi’s response when faced with something he didn’t understand: while he didn’t know the meaning of all things, he knew that God loves His children.

What does it mean to look forward to and prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
How can knowing that God loves His children help us when we face things we do not understand?
How are you preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's love for you?